Revision as of 00:47, August 4, 2007

The immigration of the Copts to the United States of America might have started as early as the late 1940s. After 1952, Coptic immigration from Egypt to the United States increased in general.

There are many Coptic Orthodox Churches and congregations in the United States. Estimated numbers of adherents, based on church membership, is between 350,000 and 420,000. Based on the estimates of certain Coptic organizations, the number is between 700,000 and one million [1][2]. There are over 200 parishes in the United States that serve the expanding Coptic Orthodox population.

His Grace Serapion is the Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California and Hawaii.

The Diocese has around 30 churches, a theological school (seminary) and a charity organization called Saint Verena Charity , named after the Coptic Saint Verena)[3]. The Diocese of LA is based at 3803 W. Mission Blvd. Pomona, California 91766 USA

In California there also is an independent Coptic Orthodox Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great in Barstow that is under the jurisdiction of the Pope of Alexandria. The throne of the Bishop and Abbot of the monastery was vacant ever since the death of the thrice-blessed Bishop Karas, but is currently overseen by a Hegumen Hieromonk, Father Anastasi St. Anthony.

His Grace Youssef (Joseph) is the Bishop of the Diocese of Southern United States and also is the Abbot of the Monastery of Most Holy Virgin Mary & Saint Moses the Strong in Corpus Christi, Texas. There are 23 churches and 28 Coptic Communities (mission parishes) in this diocese along with a theological school (seminary). The diocese is headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex suburb of Colleyville, Texas.

The territories covered under this diocese are in the following states: